Hair - Colour

I was a redhead in Ancona, a blonde in Venice and Milan, a Brunette in Athens. All these colour processes have turned my hair to the texture of mossy cat fur. A kind of slimy-brittle combination. It is truly vile. I'm asking about the hostel for anyone with clippers.

Hair - Cut.

So my hair has seen a few changes, it has also got progressively shorter. In a bad hacked, I-cut-my-own-hair-without-a-mirror type style. It seems the more hair I cut off the more I have. My rough bob has got very short at the back and still long at the front... A tellum (reverse mullet) .

Photos and Technology

I have been having problems uploading photos. I managed to get two images into my first two posts but not the ones I intended. I'm a bit inept at these things... Especially for someone with a degree in computer graphic design. I'll keep working on it.

Venice was fabulous it has that dilapidated decadence that I adore. I'm glad I got to spend two nights there. I'm still in state of melancholy dispute the vibrant and ever changing surroundings. So I thought I would just go with it and overload the senses and emotions by reading withering heights. Well that and because the old classics are quarter the price of new books (copyright I guess). I'm now in Greece perhaps I should have got the Iliad, would have been more fitting than reading about the harsh hills of Yorkshire. I read the Odyssey in South East Asia don't suppose it really matters. Imagination and a good book will take you anywhere.

Milan failed to impress me. Actually I wasn't expecting it to. It's claim to fame it the fashion industry. I can't be wowed by D&G, Dior or Gucci when it is worn by street cleaners, bus drivers and check-out chicks. I stayed in a grotty hotel that smelt of crusty old alcoholics and stale tobacco. It was only 3euro more than a hostel which is what I would have paid on public transport. I took this photo of the shared toilet in the hall. Many of you may already know I collect photos of toilets. I think they represent perfectly how a basic human need that is universal can be dealt with in infinitely different ways. So out of the frame on the left was the shower without a curtain so no matter where you place your clean clothes or towel it got wet. The beddet concept still escapes me, I'm yet to find someone to explain it thoroughly. So the only interesting thing about this loo is the flush, it worked like a tap, twist up to turn it on, the more you turn the more water came though. If the flush was left up, the water would just keep coming, must have been attached to the mains. No cistern.

Athens is stunning. Beautiful and Incredible. The colours are pale and ethereal, misty but not weak. There is plenty of horizon melting into a white distance. I love it. I happen to have got a great friendly and helpful backpackers right next to the acropolis. A lucky find.

I'm going to try to post some photos of my changing hair in a separate post.

On the Road

Finally I'm on my way. My last couple of weeks were intense and emotional. I attempted to resolve a couple of thinks that were nagging on my conscience. One worked, the other didn't. Perhaps it was stupid to think think understanding could be gained without the useful (possibly essential) element of time. So in my last week I was shattered, heartbroken and depressed. I just wanted to leave. I got myself into a situation of accepting (and enjoying despite unacknowledged sacrifices) being a low prioty and a secret. On my last day I found a shallow surface peace that I am content to leave with.

After an incredibly smooth and enjoyable performance spot opening for the Dresden Dolls* at the Spegeltent** where Missy*** and I complemented a trapeeze artist with our double fandance**** we set off for Glasgow. Half way there I ran out of phone credit (I had my sim card in Missy's phone) so we stopped at a service station to pick up more. No wallet. Shit. Called the event organizers and a friend Paul***** who is one of those magic kinds of people who even if he wasn't known at the venue still would have been able to get backstage and find it. He found it. Back to Edinburgh picked it up. Back on the road

*www.dresdendolls.com
**www.spiegeltent.net
***www.missymalone.co.uk
****www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SRHqRsNKCQ
*****www.paulzenon.com

Fifteen long hours involving much waiting in queues, many stressed out people, being fast tracked through security, running shoes in one hand belt in other through Stansted we arrived in beautiful Ancona, Italy.

Despite technical problems the gig was lovely. The rockabilly audience receptive, and attention astounding (photoshoots, magazine interviews, newspaper coverage, television interview etc). My favorite was having our very own bodyguard. A massive man who would sutblely stand near us where ever we went (like outside the toilets) if anyone got too close he would move in, and if they tried anything he would remove them from our presence. I asked him if he wanted to come to Africa with me (he smiled and acknowleged me in a reserved bodyguard styled way without responding).

So that was my last burlesque gig. Never say never, but I don't see myself returning to it. I'm sure by the time I return to the developed world there will be something else. Some other obscure occupation to try. When we got back to the hotel I cut my hair into a rough bob. Missy averted her eyes. We have formed an amazing and strong friendship through burlesque. She is the best burlesque artist I know (on both sides of the stage door). It was hard to leave her. Probably harder for her though, it is always worse for the one left behind.

I'm typing this in an internet cafe in Venice after writing it on a scrap of paper on the train, the train smelt of burning synthetics and wee yet all the place names made me hungry (yum... Bologna). I made the decision to go to Venice before Milan at the train station yesterday. I made the decision to stay two nights when I found a hostel last night. I have not yet made the decision of what I'm doing this afternoon. I don't have a phone, or keys, but I make up for it with a small collection of wallets hidden about my belongings. I feel free.

The Plan

Wednesday (23rd Aug) night Missy and myself head through to Glasgow and stay in the hotel next to the airport. Thursday morning we fly Glasgow-London-Italy Missy and I are performing at a rockabilly festival there ( www.summerjamboree.com ). Missy will return to the UK with my stilettos, feather fans, vintage underwear and other stuff that I will have no longer have use for... and I will continue on.

I will head to Milan then on Tuesday the 29th fly Milan-Athens, and on friday the 1st of September fly Athens-Alexandria. I am booked onto a month long TEFL course. The course finds job placements. I would love to head down into the heart of the continent from there. but I haven't saved enough money. so I'll find work maybe in the Middle East maybe not. I'll let you know when it happens.

Last night my sturdy, dependable nokia 3310 died. So I have lost my most used means of contact, and my phonebook. I'll see if I can get my sim card into someone elses phone, but if not

Test Post

I just dug out this old blog of mine from years ago... deleted all previous posts from my early months in Edinburgh. The point of this is to avoid group emails. I hate them, they are dull. But I want to maintain contact. So here is a place where you can keep up with what I am doing at your leisure. A relationship resporator. I am going to assume that you my dear reader already know me and will forgive all gramatical and spelling mistakes... which is mopstly due to lazyness.

I might as well start. in 9 days I depart for Africa. Wether or not I get into the heart of Africa and what I do when I get there is yet to be determained. I'm underfunded and ill-prepared. Which I find often makes for the best journeys.